Texas Masonry Insurance
From Houston to Dallas, Texas has no statewide masonry license and is the only state in the country where workers’ comp is largely optional — except on government construction contracts, where it’s mandatory for every worker. Coverage built for Texas masonry has to account for that unusual structure.
Carriers We Represent
Why Texas Masonry Contractors Need Specialized Coverage
Masonry carries a jobsite risk most other trades don’t: an unbraced wall under construction can overturn or collapse before permanent supports go in, and federal OSHA wrote a rule specifically for this scenario, applying directly and unmodified in Texas.
Texas has no statewide masonry license, workers’ comp is largely optional except on government contracts, and federal OSHA governs job-site safety with no state plan. We build the program around those specifics.
Texas Licensing, Compliance & Requirements for Masonry Contractors
Texas has no statewide general contractor license and no state-level masonry-specific trade license. TDLR regulates only electrical, HVAC, and plumbing at the state level — masonry licensing, where it exists, is set at the city or county level and varies by jurisdiction.
Texas is the only state where workers’ comp is largely optional for private employers — no general employee-count threshold triggers mandatory coverage. The exception: employers on government building/construction contracts must certify coverage for every employee on that project under Texas Labor Code §406.096. Non-subscribers must file Form DWC-005. Under Texas Business & Commerce Code Chapter 601, customers can cancel a home-solicitation masonry contract until midnight of the 3rd business day. Texas has no state OSHA plan — federal OSHA governs directly, including the masonry-specific wall-bracing standard.
- No statewide masonry or general contractor license — regulation, where it exists, is set city/county by city/county
- Workers’ comp is largely OPTIONAL for private employers — Texas is the only state structured this way
- Exception: government building/construction contracts require certified WC coverage for every worker (Tex. Labor Code §406.096)
- Non-subscribing employers must file Form DWC-005 with the state
- In-home masonry contracts give customers a cancellation right until midnight of the 3rd business day (Bus. & Com. Code Ch. 601)
- No Texas OSHA state plan — federal OSHA governs directly, including the masonry-specific wall-bracing standard
Core Coverages for Texas Masonry Contractors
Most Texas masonry contractors build a program around general liability and workers’ comp, then layer in the coverages below that address the trade’s specific structural and completed-operations risk.
- General liability for property damage and bodily injury during construction, repair, or demolition
- Completed-operations coverage for cracking, water intrusion, or structural settling discovered after the job is done
- Workers’ compensation, especially where a government contract requires certified coverage for every worker
- Tools and equipment (inland marine) covering mixers, saws, scaffolding, and lifts on the job or in transit
- Builder’s risk or installation floater coverage for brick, block, and stone staged on site before install
- Commercial auto for trucks and trailers hauling masonry materials and equipment
- Contractor’s errors & omissions for disputes over structural quality or spec compliance
- General liability as your primary injury-cost protection if you choose to be a non-subscriber to workers’ comp
What Drives Masonry Insurance Costs in Texas
Texas eliminated mandated rate relativities for masonry effective July 2020 — carriers now set rates via their own data or NCCI-filed advisory loss costs. No current numeric figure for code 5022 was retrievable this session. The ranges below are a realistic national benchmark, not a quote.
| Business Size | General Liability (Annual) | Workers’ Comp (Annual, if subscribing) | Est. Total Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo / owner-operator | $750 – $1,350 | $1,700 – $3,100 (optional) | $750 – $4,450 |
| Small crew (2–5) | $1,350 – $2,600 | $3,500 – $6,400 (optional) | $1,350 – $9,000 |
| Established (6+) | $2,600 – $4,800 | $7,100 – $12,300 (optional; mandatory on gov’t contracts) | $2,600 – $17,100 |
Estimated ranges based on national masonry GL/WC benchmarks (NCCI code 5022). Because workers’ comp is optional in Texas outside government contracts, many masonry businesses carry higher general liability limits instead. Actual premiums vary by payroll, claims history, and carrier appetite.
- Whether you choose to carry workers’ comp voluntarily or remain a non-subscriber (outside government contracts)
- Whether your work is on a government building/construction contract requiring certified WC coverage
- Wall height and scope of work, since masonry-specific bracing rules scale with height
- Vehicle count and radius of operation for the commercial auto line
- Claims history, including any prior structural-settling or water-intrusion claims
- Whether a commercial contract requires a surety bond in addition to insurance
Why Texas Masonry Contractors Choose The Allen Thomas Group
As an independent, family-owned agency, we place Texas masonry contractors across more than fifteen A-rated carriers rather than pushing one company’s product.
- Independent access to 15+ A-rated carriers, matched to your crew size and structural-work exposure
- Family-owned guidance since 2003 with an A+ BBB rating
- Hands-on help weighing Texas’s optional workers’ comp structure against your actual jobsite risk
- Coordinated programs across general liability, tools, materials, auto, and bonds with no gaps
- Certificates of insurance and additional-insured endorsements issued fast for GCs and property managers
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a state license to do masonry work in Texas?
No statewide license exists. Texas regulates only electrical, HVAC, and plumbing at the state level — masonry licensing, where it exists at all, is set locally by city or county.
Is workers’ comp required for a masonry crew in Texas?
Generally no — Texas is the only state where workers’ comp is largely optional for private employers. The exception is government building/construction contracts, which require certified coverage for every worker on the project.
What happens if I choose not to carry workers’ comp in Texas?
You must file Form DWC-005 as a non-subscriber, and you lose certain legal defenses in an employee injury lawsuit — general liability alone doesn’t replace that protection.
Can a customer cancel a masonry contract signed at their home in Texas?
Yes. Under Texas Business & Commerce Code Chapter 601, customers can cancel until midnight of the 3rd business day after signing.
What insurance covers a masonry wall that cracks or fails after completion?
Products-completed-operations coverage, typically written within general liability, responds when a completed masonry job later causes structural settling, cracking, or water intrusion.
What insurance covers brick, block, or stone staged at a jobsite before installation?
A builder’s risk or installation floater policy, not general liability, typically covers masonry materials staged on-site or left in a truck before install.
Does Texas have its own OSHA program?
No. Texas has no state OSHA plan — federal OSHA governs directly, including the masonry-specific wall-bracing standard.
What drives the cost of masonry insurance in Texas?
Whether you carry workers’ comp voluntarily, whether your work involves government contracts, wall height and scope of work, vehicle count, and claims history.
Protect Your Texas Masonry Business
We compare more than fifteen A-rated carriers to build masonry coverage around your crew, your equipment, and your Texas jobsites.